As summertime draws to a close, I’m reminded of all the fun times I’ve had these past few months. Naturally, none of these memories involve spending time outdoors because I hate going outside. I mean, if I don’t get out of this house soon, people might start thinking I’m agoraphobic. Seriously though, while enjoying everything nature has to offer isn’t really my thing, I like to think I have a good time just the same. Not spending a zillion hours outdoors really frees up my time to work on my various creative projects (also no sunburn, so that’s a plus). You’re gonna think I’m pretty lame (even more so than you already do), but I like to put together puzzles. That’s right, puzzles.
The problem with puzzles today is that even if the puzzle itself is challenging, the pictures are so lame. I mean, how many times can I put together a picture of snow covered trees or a cat hanging on a branch? Zip Code Puzzles (Firebox, $34.95) are a completely different story. Instead of regurgitating the same old photo options, these puzzles are made to order according to your personal choice of geographic location. Using an extract from the U.S. Geological Survey, a 400 piece puzzle is produced according to the zip code you provide. In the center of the puzzle is a house-shaped piece that represents the address location and the puzzle itself spans six miles east/west and four miles north/south of the center point. The map displays buildings, main roads, water features, and even some local establishments so that each puzzle is unique.
I don’t know who wouldn’t want to put together this puzzle. I would totally commit to putting every last piece of this puzzle together, glue it in place, and then frame it for display. That’s not weird, right?
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 12.25″ x 18.5″ (assembled)
-400 piece jigsaw puzzle
-Features an extract from the U.S. Geological Survey
-Map covers 6 miles East/West and 4 miles North/South
-Center piece is shaped like a house
-Puzzle box includes personal message area
-Each puzzle made to order
-Non returnable except due to faulty manufacturing
I’m not very strong. It doesn’t really bother me all that much because I’m usually around someone who can help me out when I need to lift something heavy or can’t get the lid off a pickle jar. There are times when I’d like to at least pretend I’m an adult and that I have the ability to function on my own. Specifically, when I can’t get the cap off a beer bottle, it almost seems like I shouldn’t even be allowed to drink it.
I could go to the gym and try to build up my muscles, but that sounds like a lot of work. Instead, I’d rather trick people into thinking that I’m stronger by using the EZ Botop Bottle Opener (Drinkstuff, £7.99). Not only does this baby allow you to easily open beer, soda, anything with a bottle cap, but you can do it one-handed! Along with its innovative design, this opener creates a fulcrum that allows you to open a bottle with little to no effort. The top part is also magnetic, so the cap sticks to it after you’ve opened the bottle. I’m a fan of this feature because I am well known for attempting to uncap a beverage, only to have either the cap or bottle go flying because of my underdeveloped biceps.
Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s been a long week and I need to conduct some further testing on this bottle opener.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 40mm x 170mm x 45mm
-One handed bottle opener
-Remove cap and pour contents in one fluid motion
-Magnet retains bottle top
-Not available for delivery in Canada
As I mentioned yesterday, I have a couple of pets. Specifically, two cats (dogs aren’t really conducive to small living spaces). And while I’m pretty sure they’re not doing a whole lot in my absence, I know they’re not angels all of the time. I can’t do a whole lot about it when I’m at work though, so when I get home I have to make sure that I’m all about the discipline. While a stern word or two usually does the trick, sometimes I have to break out the big guns. Water guns, that is. The only downside to squirting a cat with water is that it doesn’t always deter them. I could squirt one of my cats repeatedly with a water gun, but all I’ll end up with is an oblivious animal and a wet floor.
So I guess you could say that I’m on the market for a new solution, hence the Pet Zoom Sonic Pet Trainer (Walter Drake, $14.99). Instead of yelling at my cats until my voice is hoarse, I could just use this device because at least one of them is actually effective. Can you guess which one? The device functions by emitting a high frequency tone when a button is pressed. This tone can only be heard by your dog or cat, kind of like a dog whistle, and it’s super annoying. Effective up to 20 feet away, you can use the device the next time your cat is walking all over your kitchen counter or your dog is chewing on the edge of the coffee table.
As with any training tool, if you abuse its power it ceases to be effective. So please don’t misuse this device because your animals will seek revenge. True story.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4.5″ x 2″ x 1″
-Discourages bad habits in pets
-Emits high frequency tone to reinforce verbal commands
-Effective up to 20 ft away
-Uses one 9V battery (not included)
-Lightweight
-Safe and effective
Last night I heard the melodic sounds of the ice cream truck passing through the neighborhood. I was torn, because ice cream seemed like a really good idea right about then, but it was 10pm and just a little bit creepy for the ice cream man to be out that late. So I didn’t rush out to get a fudge pop or a King cone, choosing to instead pine away for an ice cold treat within the confines of my own home. It seemed like the safer choice, given the circumstances, but I was still left unsatisfied.
If I’d had the Ice Cream Maker (Perpetual Kid, $24.99) in my kitchen, I wouldn’t have spent the rest of the evening salivating over the thought of popsicles and ice cream cones. Instead, ingredients permitting, I could have sauntered into my kitchen and whipped up a batch of my own ice cream. Unlike the ice cream makers of old, this one doesn’t require you to inflict carpal tunnel syndrome on yourself whilst constantly churning its contents. With just the push of a button, you can create two different ice cream flavors in this maker. All you have to do is mix your ingredients (recipe book included), pour them into the maker, push a little button, and put the whole thing in the freezer. That’s it. Seriously.
I’m really trying to cut back on my kitchen gadgets (they’re starting to take over the place), so I have to wonder if this one is really worth it. I mean, will I really eat enough ice cream to justify the purchase? Seeing as my beverage intake skyrocketed once I got Keurig, I’m thinking it’s a fair bet to say I’ll be living off an ice cream diet.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 9″ x 4″
-Includes ice cream maker and recipe book
-Recipe book includes sherbet, sorbet, and ice cream recipes
-Makes ice cream with the push of a button
-Make two different flavors at once
-Needs 4 AA batteries
-Made of plastic
I’m not terribly skilled at home repairs, but that hasn’t stopped me from finagling my way through a home improvement project. Most of the time it’s not a big deal because whatever I’m fixing is fairly benign to begin with. However, sometimes I start a project that seems fairly easy and quickly evolves into a huge, somewhat dangerous undertaking. I’m not saying that I’m gonna stop doing these little pet projects because, 1) it saves me money, and 2) I really should know how to fix things around the house without having to call my dad 24/7. One might argue it’s a matter of pride.
If you’re like me and you’re gonna put yourself in situations with the potential of bodily harm, you might want to invest in a pair of Dual LED Safety Glasses (ThinkGeek, $19.99). I’m not saying this is all you’ll need to protect yourself from injury, but it’s a good start. While they look like normal safety glasses (albeit a lot trendier than the ones you donned in shop class), they actually exceed the ANSI Z87+ high impact standards. Translation: safety just got safetier. In addition to being safer and considerably more fashionable than most safety glasses, this scratch-resistant pair is also outfitted with an LED light on each side of the frame. With 99.9% protection from harmful UV rays and an optically correct viewing area of 180 degrees, these glasses are sure to help you get any DIY job done without a trip to the emergency room.
The LEDs have a 48 hour battery run time, which has got to last as long as the job you’re doing. If not, it’s time to stop. Seriously, put down the hammer. Take a break. People don’t even play Wii for that long without stopping.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Safety glasses with fully adjustable/removable LED lights
-Includes glasses, carrying case, and breakaway cord
-180 optically correct viewing area
-Two LED lights
-99.9% UV protection
-48 hour battery run time
-Scratch resistant
-Exceeds high impact standards
-Uses two CR2032 batteries (included)
